Letters to the editor, 12/20

Eminent domain means disaster for families

Here are two simple words that can mean devastation to families and communities: Eminent domain.

Imagine that you've worked hard and saved money your entire life, building your home and making it the perfect place for your retirement. Or, imagine that you've finally scraped together enough money for a down payment on the house where you intend to raise your family. You pay your taxes regularly and your future seems secure.

Now, imagine receiving a letter informing you that your dream is shattered. The power company has decided it needs more land through which to run new power lines and some or all of your property is part of that land. The state has agreed that the power company can use eminent domain to take your home and bring anguish and heartache where before there was happiness.

That's precisely what's happening here in Dutchess and Columbia counties, in our local towns and villages, to people just like you and me. It's happening because businesses have regard for nothing but their bottom line, regardless of the cost to the families whose properties are threatened. They're intent on using old, cheap technology rather than newer, less invasive and more secure technologies that are in widespread use both in parts of the U.S. and worldwide.

Please join me in opposing plans for larger, more intrusive power lines and help remove the threat of forceful acquisition of homes and properties by companies whose least concern is the public good. For more information, please visit: www.nomonsterpowerlines.com to see how you can help.

Ray Mansell

Clinton

Obama's administration was deflecting all along

Here we are, five years into this mess and many people are just starting to realize that all is not as we've been led to believe. President Barack Obama's administration has been denying and deflecting all along, knowing that with time, all will go away. With an active assist from the media, that has been true.

Remember "Fast and Furious" (stonewalled), the Internal Revenue Service scandal (who us?), Benghazi (more stonewalling), the National Security Agency scandal (denied), energy (where green energy is good and affordable, existing energy is bad), economy (that darn Bush, we're in a deeper hole than we thought), foreign policy (the U.S. is now seen as a paper tiger). All these and more have been called bogus, when possible and new news to the administration, when undeniable. And when lives are lost, (American lives) there is a vow to bring the guilty to justice. How's that working? But with the Affordable Care Act the people are actually feeling this one and not in a positive way for the vast majority.

With a lofty hope and change promise, we find that incompetence and deception are more appropriate.

Rich Rizzo

Hyde Park

Albany in desperate need of term limits, too

In response to Felice Manzi's letter to the editor, I agree with the letter ("Term limits needed to force change in Congress" Dec. 1). Term limits are the only way we the people will obtain control of Congress. But let's not limit it to Congress, we need term limits in Albany, too. Albany, along with Washington, D.C., has lost touch with the people. The lawmakers create laws without reading the bill, and make themselves appear above and void of those laws. Who do they think they are? I will use a term used approximately a year ago by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, "enough is enough." The people need to take back control.

Robert Rogers

Poughkeepsie

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Letters to the editor, 12/20

Here are two simple words that can mean devastation to families and communities: Eminent domain.